This afternoon, the following passage stood out for me as I was reading Tim Keller’s, The Meaning of Marriage:
“The Holy Spirit ‘will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you’ (John 16:14). What does that mean?
– Tim Keller
‘Make known’ translates a Greek word meaning a momentous announcement that rivets attention. The Holy Spirit’s task, then, is to unfold the meaning of Jesus’ person and work to believers in such a way that the glory of it – its infinite importance and beauty – is brought home to the mind and heart. This is why earlier in the letter to the Ephesians, Paul can pray that ‘the eyes of your heart be enlightened’ (Ephesians 1:18), that they might ‘have power . . . to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ . . .’ (Ephesians 3:17-18). The Holy Spirit’s ministry is to take truths about Jesus and make them clear to our minds and real to our hearts – so real that they console and empower and change us at our very center.
To be ‘filled with the Spirit,’ then is to live a life of joy, sometimes quiet, sometimes towering. Truths about God’s glory and Jesus’s saving work are not just believed with the mind but create inner music (Ephesians 5:19) and an inner relish in teh soul. ‘Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ . . .’ (Ephesians 5:19-20). And because teh object of this song is not favorable life circumstances (which can change) but rather the truth and grace of Jesus (which cannot), this heart song does not weaken in times of difficulty.”
I know this is a long quote, but it is so good, that I considered it worth reproducing here. I like the last part even though I struggle to live it out.
To paraphrase, because Jesus demonstrates grace toward us and provides a means of dealing with our sin and rebellion, we have a reason to have joy even when our life circumstances are not what we would like them to be.
If you are encouraged by this post or would like to join in a conversation, please use the comment form below to offer your feedback. If you are reading this in an email and would like to comment, you can reply to the email or click on the “Read in browser” link below to go to the web page where you can enter a comment. I enjoy hearing from you.
